Environmental awareness and improvementsPlan of Work

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Boone County CES

Title:
Environmental awareness and improvements
MAP:
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
Agents Involved:
Rex McBride, David Koester, Gina Ligon
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Backyard Streams
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Urban Environments (water issues)
Situation:

Census shows that Boone County is now considered over 50% urban. With this number growing yearly more and more of our community members have less contact with the natural environment. More of our landscape is being converted into manicured lawn. Homeowners have shown interest in keeping/creating habitat for wildlife in both lawn and large acreage areas.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Habitat improvement practices will increase the biodiversity of native flora and fauna within communities, promoting further positive environmental change.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants will implement habitat improvements on their properties.

Initial Outcomes:

Participants will learn habitat management and improvement methods for landscaping in their lawns.

Participants will learn ways to improve and conserve natural growing areas such as woodlots and former farmlands.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Participants will learn ways to improve and conserve natural growing areas such as woodlots and former farmlands.

Indicator: improved knowledge of woodlot management for various uses

Method: survey

Timeline: fall


Intermediate Outcome: Participants will implement habitat improvements on their properties.

Indicator: number of improvements made

Method: post-survey

Timeline: as program opportunities occur


Long-term Outcome: Habitat improvement practices will increase the biodiversity of native flora and fauna within communities, promoting further positive environmental change.

Indicator: landowners improving habitats

Method: landowner initiated assessment by wildlife and forestry specialists

Timeline: yearly

Learning Opportunities:


Audience: Homeowners

Project or Activity: Bluebird Nesting Boxes

Content or Curriculum: UK Bluebird publication, ND extension nesting box plans

Inputs: staff, volunteers

Date: February



Audience: Boone County Home and Landowners

Project or Activity: Wildlife exploration

Content or Curriculum: amphibians, pond and stream ecosystems, reptiles, birds

Inputs: Agents, volunteers, field technicians.

Date: spring/summers


Audience: Homeowners

Project or Activity: Planting for Pollinators 

Content or Curriculum: Pollinators in the garden

Inputs: Agents, horticulture techs 

Date: Summer 2018/Spring 2019


Audience: Homeowners, Community Members

Project or Activity: Hike the Trails

Content or Curriculum: Self-guided tour on the nature trails with native plant identification.

Inputs: Hort Tech, volunteers

Date: Summer/Fall 2018, Spring 2019


Audience: Homeowners

Project or Activity: Composting 

Content or Curriculum: Composting program to educate homeowners how to use yard waste and food scrapes to create soil for their garden.

Inputs: Agents, Hort Tech

Date: Spring 2019




Success Stories

Gardening for Everyone

Author: David Koester

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

We have had a 25 year history of making gardening possible to everyone regardless of age,health or physical limitation. 2019 saw us add 8 new garden bed designs for special needs individuals. Brighton Centers Youth Build Program received a $1000.00 dollar grant and students built 4 new raised beds while the Toyota Manufacturing Green Initiative constructed an additional 4 beds. Reasons for our continued involvement in this program are that regular gardening activities increase a sense of we

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